The husband of Corrie legend Julie Goodyear has shared a heartwarming update on the actress’ birthday amid her ongoing battle with dementia. Best known as Bet Lynch, the no-nonsense landlady of the Rovers Return, Julie celebrated her 83rd birthday with husband Scott Brand on March 29.
Sharing a rare photograph of Julie from their home on the outskirts of Lancashire, Scott, 55, wrote: “Just got home with my lovely wife and we’ve had a fantastic day together. Thank you so much for all your birthday wishes from both of us.” He penned the update on his Facebook where he and Julie share updates to loyal fans, friends and family.
Julie, who spent over 25 years on the cobbles, announced her dementia diagnosis last March. The soap star and her husband have since sold their £1.3m home and have been receiving support from charity Alzheimers Society.
The pair, who will celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary in June, were most recently pictured smiling and cuddling at the starting line of their local Alzheimer’s Society in October 2023.
The couple first met 29 years ago when Scott delivered plaster to Julie’s house while it was under renovation.
Opening up about Julie’s diagnosis last year, Scott told the Mirror : “Julie has always been extremely glamorous, going nowhere without her make-up.
“But now the lipsticks and make-up go unworn, and clothes are no longer of interest, especially the leopard print.
“I miss the fun-loving wife that Julie had always been – the larger-than-life personality that brightened up everywhere she went, and the smile that lit up every room.
“All of this is now slowly fading away and it’s extremely painful for me to watch this deterioration.”
Speaking about the care they have received from the Alzheimer’s Society, Scott added: “For me, the hardest part was accepting and coming to terms with the diagnosis. At the beginning I refused to accept any support, thinking I could cope as we have always been quite private people. This, in reality, didn’t last for long.
“I soon realised I needed to ask for help as I couldn’t do it by myself.”
Born in Heywood, Lancashire in 1942, glamorous Julie started her career as a model in the 60s before her acting debut in 1965. Aged 24, Julie first appeared on Coronation Street in 1966 for nine episodes, before becoming a series regular from 1970 to 1995.
But the legend left fans in a frenzy when she returned for a brief stint in 2002 and 2003.After Corrie she also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2012 and one episode of Hollyoaks in 2006.
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In 1995 she was given an Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Television awards and the following year was made an MBE for her services to television and drama.
Since retiring from TV Julie has thrown herself into charity work, becoming a patron of Manchester’s Willow Wood Hospice in 2022, where her co-star Roy Barraclough had died in 2017.
The Queen of the Rovers helped to raise £16,000 for the hospice by donating a collection of iconic memorabilia, including Bet Lynch’s famous jewellery and items of clothing.
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